Opportunities

Spotlight offers a variety of great opportunities to all pupils from performances and professional work to examinations and competitions.

Performances

All pupils have the opportunity to perform at prestigious venues. To date these have included Britain’s Got Talent live televised finals, Disneyland Paris, West End Theatres, O2 Arena, Wembley, Silverstone, Birmingham Hippodrome, Alexandra Theatre, the Birmingham Rep, Midlands Arts Centre, Wolverhampton Grand, National Exhibition Centre and International Convention Centre.

Each year all pupils perform in a 4 night school show at Solihull Arts Complex. A staged presentation evening is held each term (3 times a year) giving parents additional opportunities to monitor their child’s progress and celebrate their achievements.

Examinations

At the end of each academic term dance pupils take exams with the International Dance Teachers’ Association (I.D.T.A.) and the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.). These are the 2 largest dance associations in the world and the exams are Ofqual accredited under the Department of Education. Drama pupils can take exams with the London Academy of Dramatic Art (L.A.M.D.A.) and Singing pupils can take exams with the London College of Music (L.C.M.).

Spotlight results are always well above the national average with most pupils obtaining the top ‘Honours/Distinction’ mark. To date the school holds an outstanding 100% A*-C pass rate with numerous pupils gaining and winning national scholarship nominations.

Competitions

Pupils successfully compete in regional, national and international festivals throughout the year. Spotlight is one of only a dozen schools from around the country chosen to represent England at the Dance World Cup competition held in a different country each year.

We have won 24 British Championship titles, the Most Outstanding Group at the Dance World Cup, Best Dance School in Birmingham, Best Theatre School in Birmingham and Arlene Philipps Best Dance Group. In addition pupils have won an array of individual National titles including;

*Sunday Express Young Dancer of the Year

* I.D.T.A. Under 16 Freestyle Champion

* I.D.T.A. Bill Tasker Student of the Year

* I.D.T.A. Anna Jones Award (won twice)

* L.C.M. Highest Score Winner

The school also wins thousands of medals, trophies and titles each year for the high standard of technique, performance, choreography, etc. at regional competitions.

Professional Work & Agency

Spotlight pupils frequently undertake paid professional work through the Spotlight agency. Such work includes films, TV dramas, TV commercials, professional stage work (including West End runs, national tours and with ballet companies), modelling and work in recording studios. For a comprehensive list of our pupils’ past and ongoing professional engagements please visit the Achievements page (Go to Achievements page).

All pupils are automatically represented by the in-school agency and sent to as many auditions as possible. However, final selection is by independent casting directors, not Spotlight staff.

Graduate Destinations

We are proud that to date EVERY pupil who has wished to pursue performing arts as a career has secured a place at a top full-time post-18 vocational college, many on scholarship/funded places. To date Spotlight students have received scholarships and funding totalling over £200,000.00 and have gained places at;

Laine Theatre Arts (London)

Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts (London)

Urdang Academy (London)

Wilkes College (London)

Performers College (London)

London Studio Centre (London)

Bird College (London)

Arts Ed (London)

Masters (London)

Millennium College (London)

Elmhurst Ballet School (Birmingham)

Hammond School (Chester)

Stella Mann (London)

Phil Winston’s Theatreworks (Blackpool)

Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama (Nottingham)

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds)

London College of Music (London)

Redroofs Theatre School (London)

The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (London)

The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (LA and New York)

Royal Ballet Junior & Mid Associates

Tap Attack

Elmhurst Ballet School

* Other pupils have gained university places on a variety of dance, drama and music courses and opted for a more academic route.